Training community health volunteers on mosquito-repellent plants to support urban dengue prevention: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods study in Jakarta

Abstract

Dengue remains a major urban public health challenge in Jakarta, Indonesia, where community-level vector control often relies on reactive chemical-based approaches. Mosquito-repellent plants may serve as a practical educational medium to support environmentally oriented dengue prevention, but evidence on their use in community health volunteer training remains limited. This study evaluated mosquito-repellent plant training among community health volunteers in Jakarta using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. Knowledge was assessed before and after training, while qualitative interviews explored implementation readiness, barriers, support systems, and sustainability. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and qualitative data were analyzed thematically and integrated with the quantitative findings. Knowledge shifted toward higher categories after training, with the proportion of participants in the good knowledge category increasing from 26.7% to 56.7%. The median knowledge score increased from 60 to 80, and the improvement was statistically significant (Z=−2.103; p=0.036), with a moderate effect size (r=0.38). Qualitative findings indicated that volunteers perceived the training as practical and relevant to dengue prevention. However, implementation readiness was influenced by seedling availability, household participation, mentoring, and support from neighborhood leaders, village authorities, and primary health care centers. These findings suggest that mosquito-repellent plant training can improve volunteers’ knowledge and initial readiness to support community-based mosquito breeding site eradication and environmentally oriented dengue prevention, although sustained implementation requires continued mentoring, resource provision, and local institutional support.